Deccan Blues vs. Postal Department Equation: 4 Runs needed off 6 Balls.
The Final Over
Because Sai had taken a single on the last ball of the 19th over, and the bowling ends changed, Sai was on strike for the final over.
The bowler was Kiran, a young medium pacer who looked terrified. He had seen Sai scoop a 130kph bowler for six. Now, he had to defend 4 runs.
Ball 1: Kiran ran in nervously. He didn't want to bowl a wide. He slowed his arm down to ensure accuracy. It came out as a gentle half-volley outside off stump.
Sai saw it. He is scared. No pace.
Sai didn't try to hit it hard. He leaned forward, high elbow, head still. He caressed the ball through the covers.
[RESONANCE]
The ball pierced the gap between Cover and Extra Cover. The outfield was fast. The Postal Department fielders didn't even chase it.
FOUR.
Deccan Blues Won by 5 Wickets.
The Celebration
Naseer (at the non-striker's end) roared and lifted Sai up in the air, helmet and all. "Oye Chotu! Match winner!"
The Deccan Blues dugout emptied onto the field. Even Reddy Sir was clapping, a rare smile on his face. Yadav (the angry bowler) walked past. He looked at the scoreboard, then at Sai. He didn't say anything, but the aggression was gone. He knew he had been beaten by skill, not luck.
Sai took off his helmet. He was drenched in sweat, his white uniform stained with red mud. He looked at the sky. Job done. Next level unlocked.
Date: July 21, 2008 (Monday) Time: 5:00 PM Location: Reddy Sir's Office, Secunderabad.
The office was small, filled with trophies and stacks of old files. Reddy Sir sat behind a wooden desk, holding a pen. In front of him lay a green form: Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) - Player Registration Form (2008-09).
"Sign here," Reddy Sir said, pointing to the bottom. "And get your father's signature here."
Sai looked at the form. Name: V. Sai Krishna Club: Deccan Blues CC Role: All-Rounder
He signed it. V. Sai Krishna.
"Now," Reddy Sir said, leaning back. "You are officially a league player. The U-14 Zonal selections are in September. If you score runs in the C-Division, I will send your name for Zonals."
He opened a drawer and pulled out a white envelope. He slid it across the table.
"Match fee. And bonus for winning against Postal."
Sai opened it. Rs. 500.
It wasn't a lot. In 2025, this wouldn't buy a pizza. But in 2008, for a 10-year-old, it was a fortune.
"Thank you, Sir."
"Don't spend it on chocolates," Reddy Sir warned. "Buy a proper thigh pad. Naseer's pad smells like a dead rat."
Time: 6:30 PM Location: "Al-Madina Chicken Center", Kukatpally.
Sai stood in front of the butcher shop. The smell of raw meat was overpowering. Flies were buzzing around the hanging goats. The butcher, a large man with a cleaver, looked down at the small boy.
"Em kavali babu?" (What do you want, boy?)
Sai clutched the Rs. 500 note in his pocket. He remembered the System Alerts. Muscle Recovery Slow. Protein Deficit.
He couldn't rely on his mom to boil 5 eggs a day. She would think he was going crazy. He needed to take control of his diet.
"Uncle," Sai said firmly. "Give me half kg Chicken Breast. Boneless. No skin."
The butcher raised an eyebrow. "Boneless is expensive. Rs. 140 per kg."
"Half kg. Rs. 70," Sai calculated instantly. "Pack it."
He bought the chicken. Then he walked to the vegetable cart next door. "Boiled Sweet Potato (Chilakada Dumpa)?"
"Yes."
He bought 1kg of sweet potatoes. (Complex Carbs).
Time: 7:30 PM Location: Sai's Kitchen.
His mom was watching a serial in the living room. Sai quietly entered the kitchen. He didn't know how to cook Hyderabadi Chicken Curry. And he didn't want the oil/masala anyway.
He took a small steel vessel. He put the chicken pieces in water. He added a pinch of turmeric (haldi) and salt. He turned on the stove.
Boiled Chicken. The taste would be terrible. Bland, rubbery, and sad. But Sai wasn't eating for taste. He was eating for Data.
Protein = Muscle Repair. Sweet Potato = Glycogen Refill.
He sat on the kitchen floor, eating the tasteless boiled chicken and boiled sweet potato. It was dry. He had to gulp water to swallow it.
His dad walked into the kitchen to drink water. He saw Sai eating the pale, white chicken. "Entra adi? Patient food laaga undi?" (What is that? Looks like patient food?)
"Muscle food, Nanna," Sai said, chewing grimly. "Reddy Sir gave me Rs. 500. I bought this."
Rao looked at the Money envelope on the counter. Then he looked at his son, eating boiled meat without complaining. He realized this wasn't just a hobby anymore.
"Okay," Rao said softly. "But put some pepper at least. Don't punish yourself."
Sai smiled. "Yes, Nanna."
He finished the bowl. He washed the vessel.
September. Zonal Selections. I have two months. I need to grow 2 inches and add 5kg of muscle.
Sai went to his room, turned off the lights, and started doing push-ups.